“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” 1 Peter 4:1

AS MEN OF HONOR:

One of the major goals that all Christians share is to not sin anymore, or at least to sin less. This is our hearts desire, no one wants to sin! The idea that we would be sinning in any way after receiving Jesus into our lives is troubling to us all, however the reality of sin is still present with us, as we all struggle with the war between our flesh and our spirit, as Paul has pointed out to us, citing that the sin nature still remains among us, as we read in scripture,

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7: 22, 23

It is a life long struggle, because we are born unto sin as we read,

“Yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward,” Job 5: 7

Yet there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Romans 8:1

WE WILL OVERCOME…

Despite our state of struggle, we can overcome sin, by walking in the spirit of God, and serving Jesus above serving our own desires, and suffering, and denial serves a great role in this victory, as we read,​“For he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:2

We need to embrace suffering for all that it is worth, no more are we slaves to sin, but rather we are servants to God. The suffering that Christ endured on the cross has broken the grip of sin, and we are no longer living in the flesh, no longer pursuing the lust of this world. We then are willing to sacrifice in order to be free from sin. Having this mind of sacrifice in us so that we must triumph over sin, not giving into its demands. Although we live in a sin-filled world, and we might lose friends by our departure from sinful activities, we consider our life to be dead to sin, and now we are free from sin forever. This is what happens when we die, we sin no more! This is why Paul could say,

“For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

So we see here that suffering is good, and even our teacher through life. Sin-less-ness is our goal, and so we do not fear suffering, and we can even see the joy beyond it, which enables us to endure suffering and grab onto victory; Just as Jesus did, as we read,

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2